Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!brl-adm!brl-smoke!gwyn From: gwyn@brl-smoke.ARPA (Doug Gwyn ) Newsgroups: sci.crypt Subject: Re: Help; I need a 90% solution Message-ID: <7441@brl-smoke.ARPA> Date: 12 Mar 88 08:55:43 GMT References: <3350001@hpcvlx.HP.COM> Reply-To: gwyn@brl.arpa (Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) ) Organization: Ballistic Research Lab (BRL), APG, MD. Lines: 16 In article <3350001@hpcvlx.HP.COM> ben@hpcvlx.HP.COM (Benjamin Ellsworth) writes: >I have a document with troff format commands imbedded in it. I have >the troff output. I had encrypted the file using UN*X crypt. Now I >cannot remember the password. > >Does having the vast majority of the plaintext available make the >decryption easier? Easy enough to try it? The UNIX "crypt" utility does not use DES; it's based on a junior version of the Hebern machine (a la Enigma). The "Crypt Breaker's WorkBench" (posted to one of the source newsgroups some time during the past year) is up to the task of reconstructing the plaintext given some probable words. It can even do so without probable words, although it takes more work. If you don't have CBW, perhaps someone knows where you can get it, or contact me by E-mail and we can discuss the options.